Call Me Firdaus

I recently had an inspiring call with a young man whose story truly touched me. His name is Prince Muchimba, a young Zambian accounting graduate who is living with a disability and uses a wheelchair. Instead of allowing his situation to limit him, Prince chose to build something of his own through local chicken farming.

After completing his studies, Prince struggled to find employment, just like many young graduates across Africa. Rather than waiting endlessly for a job, he made a bold decision to venture into poultry farming as a way to sustain himself and gain independence.

Prince mainly keeps local chicken breeds, including the Sasso breed, which is well known in Zambia. He explained that broilers and layers are also common in the country, but he prefers local birds because they are resilient and suit his setup. At the moment, he manages the farm together with his 14-year-old younger brother, showing how family support plays a big role in small-scale farming.

Currently, Prince has 82 birds, out of which 47 are parent stock. His big target is to grow his flock to 750 birds by the end of the year. It’s an ambitious goal, but his discipline and planning make it achievable.

Like many farmers, Prince has faced several challenges. Diseases have been one of his biggest problems, leading to losses as he continues to learn better poultry management. To deal with theft, he decided to enclose his birds in a secure chicken enclosure. However, this also means higher feeding costs, since the birds can no longer free-range freely.

To cut costs, Prince uses natural incubation by allowing his local hens to hatch eggs instead of buying incubators. After hatching, the chicks are brooded and fed starter feed for about a month before being released to join the older birds. He is also working on improving his farm systems and biosecurity to reduce disease outbreaks.

Prince became more widely known after being recognized by the president during his graduation. He believes this exposure will help him access better markets in the future. For now, he has even decided to resist new orders, choosing instead to focus on building his flock to the target number before expanding sales.

One of the most powerful messages Prince shared is that agriculture can empower persons with disabilities, both financially and socially. He encourages others to start small, using whatever they can afford and manage. He pointed out that society often views people with disabilities as beggars, which makes self-reliance even more important.

Prince also applies his accounting knowledge directly to his farming business. He carefully manages money, budgets expenses, minimizes costs, and focuses on profit. He chose poultry farming deliberately because it can be run within his own yard, provides both food and income, and does not require a lot of movement—making it ideal for someone using a wheelchair.

His message to fellow Africans, especially the youth, is clear: take risks, step out of your comfort zone, and build something of your own beyond employment. Education is important, but its real value comes when you apply what you learn to improve your life.

Stories like Prince’s remind us that limitations do not define our future—mindset, courage, and action do. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJFLG...

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4 days ago | [YT] | 114

Call Me Firdaus

My Observations on the Poultry Industry in Uganda: 2025 Review and Outlook for 2026

From my engagement with farmers and industry players, it is clear that 2025 was a very difficult year for poultry farmers in Uganda, especially small and medium-scale producers. Several structural and operational challenges combined to squeeze margins and push many farmers out of business.

Key Challenges Observed in 2025

One of the biggest pressures throughout the year was the high cost of feeds. Feed prices remained elevated for most of 2025, while egg prices were unstable and often too low to cover production costs. This imbalance severely affected profitability.

Labour-related challenges were another major concern. Many farmers reported theft of eggs and birds, poor supervision, and workers abandoning farms without notice. These issues were particularly costly for farmers who manage their operations remotely.

Disease outbreaks also caused heavy losses. In many cases, poor biosecurity, delayed diagnosis, and improper use of drugs worsened the situation. Some farmers resorted to self-treatment without professional guidance, leading to further losses.

There was also noticeable market interference from Kenya, where traders reportedly bought large volumes of feed ingredients from Uganda and introduced cheaper off-layer birds into the market. This disrupted local supply chains and affected prices for Ugandan farmers.

As a result of these pressures, many poultry farms closed, especially small-scale operations that lacked financial buffers. In addition, shortages and delays in chick supply disrupted production cycles, making planning difficult for farmers.

Another factor affecting prices was low egg consumption locally. Despite eggs being one of the most affordable protein sources, consumption levels remain low, limiting demand and keeping prices suppressed.

I also observed that farmer mindset played a role. Some farmers are reluctant to pay for professional services, invest in training, or market their farms online, which limits growth and competitiveness.

Finally, competition from large commercial farms intensified. These farms benefit from bulk purchasing, strong distribution networks, and pricing power, often setting market prices that smaller farmers struggle to match.

Positive Developments and Outlook for 2026

Despite the difficulties, there are reasons for cautious optimism going into 2026. With many farms having closed, new and well-planned farms may find better market opportunities, especially if they manage costs efficiently.

There is an expectation that egg prices will rise in early 2026, driven by festive season demand, reduced supply, and the possibility of slight feed price reductions.

I also see breeding (layers and broilers) emerging as a potentially lucrative venture, as demand for quality chicks continues to grow.

On the policy side, there has been a small but noticeable increase in government involvement. Initiatives such as farmer forums on sustainable and climate-resilient practices, and training boot camps organized by NARO, are steps in the right direction—although they still need to reach more grassroots farmers.

Encouragingly, youth engagement in poultry agribusiness has improved, supported by platforms like the Harvest Money Expo and World Egg Day activities.

There were also improvements in feed quality, with some large manufacturers placing greater emphasis on better formulations. In addition, technology adoption increased, with more farmers investing in automatic drinkers, modern cage systems, and climate-controlled poultry houses.

Conclusion

In my view, 2025 exposed the weaknesses in our poultry sector but also highlighted opportunities for those willing to adapt. Farmers who focus on good planning, biosecurity, market awareness, and innovation stand a better chance of succeeding in 2026.

1 week ago | [YT] | 123

Call Me Firdaus

Meet the 18 Year Old Poultry Farmer Making Huge Profits in Zambia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJQra...

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 34

Call Me Firdaus

I Ignored THIS… and Lost Eggs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcH_7...

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 54

Call Me Firdaus

How to Import Layer Birds to Africa from Abroad https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qO_Ct...

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 41

Call Me Firdaus

Why Your Farm Workers Are Destroying Your Farm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4WNx...

4 weeks ago | [YT] | 6

Call Me Firdaus

It took Him 16 years to Finally make profit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKjRs...

1 month ago | [YT] | 83

Call Me Firdaus

My next video is one of the best poultry farming stories I have done this year. Packed with tons of free, practical farming knowledge you don’t want to miss. It goes live today.. make sure you check it out.

1 month ago | [YT] | 39

Call Me Firdaus

How to Stop heat stress on your poultry farm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFRLC...

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1 month ago | [YT] | 33

Call Me Firdaus

Many farmers focus only on protein and energy, yet micronutrients like electrolytes, vitamins, and trace minerals are just as essential...especially during these intense hot conditions.

Farmers who have already adopted these solutions are seeing remarkable improvements in bird health and performance.

Watch this powerful testimony and see the results for yourself! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFRLC...

1 month ago | [YT] | 25